Why Governor Healey is taking action to immediately implement new gun laws

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Now for the news:

Chess moves: Gov. Maura Healey is taking executive action to immediately put the sweeping gun control law she signed last summer into effect today. As WBUR's Walter Wuthmann reports, the move comes as gun rights groups collect signatures to place a measure to repeal the law on the 2026 ballot. Healey's action Also Prevents the possibility that the law will be temporarily repealed by next week's referendum effort.

• Remind me how the repeal effort works: Opponents of the bill must submit at least 37,287 signatures by next Wednesday to advance with the 2026 referendum effort. But if they manage to reach a higher threshold — 49,716 signatures — the state constitution would allow them to suspend the law's effective date until voters have a chance to weigh in.
• What is Healey doing? Most laws take effect 90 days after they are signed, in this case October 23rd. However, Healey is today signing an “emergency preamble” to implement it. That means the law will remain in effect for at least the next two years, even if repeal efforts continue in 2026.
• How do opponents of the law react? They are not happy that their plan to thwart the law is itself being thwarted. Cape Gun Works owner Toby Leary, who leads the repeal coalition, told Walt that Healey's actions were “bypassing the constitutional process and the will of the people, the move of a tyrant.”
• What does the law do again? Highlights include an update to the state's assault weapons ban, a crackdown on untraceable ghost guns and a ban on firearms in schools and government buildings. You can read more about the details of the law here.